Hong Ngoc Nguyen dies in fatal Fountain Valley police pursuit crash
Fatal Fountain Valley police pursuit crash death of Hong Ngoc Nguyen – Obituary
Hong Ngoc Nguyen, a 25-year-old woman, tragically lost her life during a high-speed police chase in Fountain Valley on Tuesday. The pursuit, linked to an arson investigation, ended in a devastating crash when the fleeing driver, 43-year-old Timothy Bradford Cole, ran a red light and collided with a BMW SUV at the intersection of Magnolia and Ellis. Nguyen, a passenger in the BMW, was fatally injured.
The incident began earlier that day when Cole reportedly set fire to his future brother-in-law’s home by pouring lighter fluid on the front yard. Although neighbors quickly extinguished the flames, Cole fled the scene. Approximately two and a half hours later, Fountain Valley officers spotted Cole near Brookhurst Avenue. As they attempted to apprehend him, he sped away in a Dodge Ram truck, reaching speeds of 90 mph.
The chase lasted less than a minute but resulted in catastrophic consequences. Alongside Nguyen, two other individuals in the BMW sustained critical injuries but remain in stable condition. Cole, who suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries, is expected to face multiple felony charges following his release from the hospital.
Shane Schmidt, the homeowner targeted in the arson, expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss. “It’s unbearable to think that someone’s little girl isn’t coming home,” he said.
Fountain Valley police stated that their involvement in the pursuit was minimal, as the suspect accelerated to dangerous speeds almost immediately after being spotted. The investigation remains ongoing.